Sure Labor Day weekend is generally reserved for family cookouts, but why not shake it up a bit? Grab a girlfriend or two, and take a road trip to New Orleans via Memphis.

DAY ONE — Saturday (drive time: four hours)
When you leave Nashville, take Highway 70 to Memphis. If you leave in the morning, you’ll be in Brownsville in time for an early lunch. At the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway 70 South, check out artist Billy Tripp’s multi-dimensional monument called “The Mindfield.” He started building the grey, four-story sculpture made from steel girders and scrap metal in 1989. Before you leave, visit Brownsville’s College Hill Historic District, close to the town square, which features many Greek Revival homes and churches dating back to the early 19th century. On your way out of town, swing through Nutbush, Tenn., birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll diva,  Tina Turner.
    Memphis is less than an hour from Brownsville, which still gives you most of the afternoon to walk around, go shopping, visit Graceland, stroll the Memphis Botanic Garden in Audubon Park, traipse along Beale Street or visit an art gallery.
Plan to stay overnight outside Memphis along Interstate 55, which leads straight down through Mississippi into Louisiana.

DAY TWO — Sunday (drive time: four to five hours)
Get an early start to arrive in New Orleans by late morning/early afternoon. When booking accommodations, look for a bed and breakfast in walking distance to the French Quarter. If you don’t have reservations, try the Best Western on North Rampart Street. It’s convenient to Bourbon Street and the heart of the French Quarter, where you’ll likely spend your evening enjoying dinner and drinks.
    Before you enjoy your nightlife, though, start your visit with a tour. The three-hour City Tour gives you a great overview of New Orleans from the famous above-ground cemeteries to the outskirts of the Garden District and even areas still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
    Afterwards, explore the French Quarter. Start on Jackson Square, which (especially on Labor Day weekend) is packed with street vendors. The square and close-by French Market are surrounded by all kinds of awkward little shops and booths as well as nice jewelry stores and art galleries. Pay a visit to the Jamie Hayes Gallery on Chartres Street. Hayes uses vivid colors and shapes making his art instantly recognizable. His books, paintings, cards and jewelry make wonderful gifts for any occasion.
Whether you enjoy a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s or stroll from one bar to the next, be cautious! Those New Orleans cocktails sneak up on you! Night owls in need of a midnight-refresher can swing by Café du Monde, the 24/7 eatery located in the French Market close to the Mississippi River. The original café opened in 1862, and it’s still best known for its café au lait and beignets.

DAY THREE — Monday (drive back to Nashville: 10 hours)
You have two options: Stay in bed, or tend to your hangover at one of the cafés on Magazine Street on your way to the Garden District. Likely the best preserved collection of historic mansions in the South, The Garden District is bound by St. Charles Avenue to the north, First Street to the east, Magazine Street to the south and Toledano Street to the west. The wealth represented here will fuel any girl’s imagination, and it offers a stark contrast to New Orleans’ poor neighborhoods.
    When it’s time to hit the road, jump on the Natchez Trace in Jackson, Miss., and take it all the way back to Nashville. This scenic route, which features beautiful lakes, hills and Indian mounds, ends near the Loveless Café on Highway 100. A whirlwind weekend? Sure, but well worth it.